Announcements for the week of October 5, 2020

Spotlight

New CTL Training Schedule: The Digital Learning Department is hosting additional Zoom Training Webinars from Sept. 28 - Oct. 16. The training webinars offer faculty opportunities which include learning pedagogical practices and techniques that enhance teaching and learning through the effective use of educational technology tools. Click here to view the schedule and register for classes.

Minimum Expectations for Synchronous Class Time: Based on best practices, we are asking that faculty provide a minimum of 30 minutes each week of synchronous time with students in your classes. This is the very minimum amount of synchronous time expected - each school/college/seminary can also require additional synchronous time. Your synchronous class time must be scheduled during your regularly scheduled class time. It will be important for you to also provide alternative assignments and expectations for students in different time zones who are not able to be present.

Outdoor Classrooms: There is still some availability in the three outdoor classrooms.  These spaces are fully equipped with technology. Students who are not able to attend in person will be able to zoom into the outdoor classroom. If you are interested in moving your class to one of these spaces, contact Edna Davoudi (for College of Arts and Sciences) at edavoudi@callutheran.edu or Gerhard Apfelthaler (for School of Management) at apfelthaler@callutheran.edu.

Covid-19 Reporting: If one of your students is sick or has been tested, please remind them to email COVID19reporting@callutheran.edu with this information, for the safety of the campus community. If you do not think the student will self-report, faculty can send an email to COVID19reporting@callutheran.edu with the student's information, then Health Services will contact the student to follow up.

Events

• Alumni's "Virtual Homecoming" series is presenting events each day throughout the month of October showcasing various aspects of Cal Lutheran. Many faculty are featured in live or recorded events. Click here for the full schedule. This week’s Virtual Homecoming “Faculty Friday” series presents:
• LIVE: Books, Bias & Blackness: How the Haitian Other Helps Tell the Story of Dominican History and Identity with Sheridan Wigginton (Languages and Cultures), Fri., Oct. 9, 12:00pm. Click here to register.
• The World of 3-D Printing with Michael Gagliardo (Mathematics), Fri., Oct. 9. Click here to view.
• What Data Can Do with Christopher Njunge (Organizational Leadership), Fri., Oct. 9. Click here to view.
   
• CTL presents: Best Practices for Recording Lectures: Chunking, Captioning, Captivating Students, Mon., Oct. 5, 9:35am.  Click here to register.
   
• FSEC is calling a Senate meeting on Mon., Oct. 5, 4:30-6:00pm, in addition to our regularly-scheduled Oct. 12 meeting.  Zoom link to the meeting is here: https://clu.zoom.us/j/91369030718?pwd=bW9CNk9EeHFOeDJsVGRtZWNrVGwyZz09
   
• President's Update, Wed., Oct. 7, 8-9am. Link sent from the President's Office. 
   
• Q&A with Provost for Faculty and Staff in the Academic Affairs Division following the President's Update, Wed., Oct. 7, 9-9:45am.
• Join Zoom Meeting: https://clu.zoom.us/j/91430183202?pwd=QjhmQTUrVTJLMm1iTXVKelhJU1lxdz09
• Meeting ID: 914 3018 3202
  Password: 464611
   
• CTL presents: Media Madness: Getting Videos and Audio into Blackboard, Wed., Oct. 7, 10:30am.  Click here to register.
   
• In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, HSI Initiatives and the Center for Cultural Engagement and Inclusion (CCEI) will be hosting the 2^nd annual Paletas in the Park! Stop by Kingsmen Park, Wed., Oct. 7, starting at 3:30pm. Paletas are free on a first-come-first-served basis, all physical distancing and the use of masks will be strictly enforced.
   
• University Chapel, Thurs., Oct. 8. Watch and interact at 11:25am every Thursday at our facebook watch party.  Nicole Gonzales (Student Life) will be speaking. After worship, meet us on zoom at 11:45am for online "cookie and lemonade" conversation time!   https://clu.zoom.us/j/9544840925
   
• CTL Weekly Virtual Lunch Series, Thurs., Oct. 8, 12:15-1:00pm. The goal of the Virtual Lunch Series is to bring faculty together to collaborate and share pedagogy successes while teaching remotely. This is a space for you to bring your story, share your teaching creativity and get suggestions/recommendations from colleagues. The topics and conversation are initiated and will be led by you, the faculty. Click here to post any questions for the weekly sessions. Join Zoom Meeting:  https://clu.zoom.us/j/91970976750?pwd=ejdaN0tjQTVkTWVxNmt1YTdhLzNOQT09
  Meeting ID: 919 7097 6750  Passcode: 364879
   
• CTL presents: FERPA, Accessibility and Best Practices in the Remote Classroom, Thurs., Oct. 8, 6pm, via Zoom.  Click here to register at least 24 hours in advance.
• Academic Difficulty Notices (ADNs) for Traditional Undergraduates: The official reporting period for ADNs began Mon., Sept. 21. Please submit unsatisfactory grades for your students who are earning a C- or below through WebAdvisor by Fri., Oct. 9. This will provide an early start in identifying students who might be struggling. Only one midterm grade submission per student in a particular class is requested for the semester. Academic Services will reach out to these students and offer support until Oct. 20. Keep in mind that the last day to withdraw with a "W" is Oct. 23. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Erashel Vaiz at evaiz@callutheran.edu or x3258. Detailed instructions on how to submit an ADN report can be found on www.callutheran.edu/adn or by clicking here
   
• Grant Writing Workshops: The Office of Sponsored Research and Projects is presenting a grant writing series for faculty and staff. The first workshop will be an overview of the grants process titled Securing Grants @ Cal Lutheran. This workshop will be held virtually on Tues., Oct. 13, from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm. Click here for more information and to register. For questions, email Roni Hooper at rhooper@callutheran.edu .
   
• Save the Date: Virtual Homecoming presents "Meet Our New Faculty," Wed., Oct. 14. Click here for more information.

Announcements

• Faculty Retreat Survey - If you attended the 2020 Faculty Retreat (via Zoom), the Community Committee requests that you take a few minutes to complete this very brief survey: Faculty Retreat Survey 2020 They look forward to your feedback so that they can make next year’s Faculty Retreat even more responsive to your interests.
   
• The Core 21 Committee approved a petition from the Department of Languages and Cultures to recognize that advanced courses in Spanish, French and German, taught fully in their respective languages, fulfill the Core 21 language requirements. Click here for more information. Any language course requesting any other Core 21 designation, such as U.S. Diversity and Global Perspectives, warrants review by the Core 21 committee. Questions regarding this decision can be directed to Core 21 Chair Kirstie Hettinga. 
   
• Student networking opportunities – The Community Leaders Association will host the Mathews Leadership Forum virtually on Wed., Oct. 21, from 6-7:30 p.m. The CLA asks faculty to help promote student participation. Students will have the opportunity to network with local business and civic leaders from a variety of professions and hear a keynote address from an accomplished speaker who will speak about finding your path during turbulent times.  For information and to register, they are welcome to visit Mathews Leadership Forum.
   
• The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) presents a virtual workshop: "Bias, Privilege, and Educational Freedom" featuring Diversity Consultant Nimisha Barton, Tues., Oct. 27, 12-1:15pm.  Click here for more information and free registration.
   
• ELCA Wittenberg 3-Seminar Webinar Series: The Freedom of a Christian, Oct. 28, 29 & 30, 10am. The Oct. 29 session features Moses Penumaka (PLTS) speaking on The Freedom of a Christian: Living in Christ and Loving our Neighbors. Click here for more information.  Click here to register.
   
• Academic Services has created a new Graduation Process page on the Registrar’s website. This has information about the degree conferrals, priority deadlines, and posting timelines. Additionally, there are details about the Degree Completion Agreement for seniors in the traditional undergraduate program. TUG Seniors received an email with this information on Sept. 21.
   
• Fall Final Exam Policy: All final exams for virtual classes must be given asynchronously (meaning that students will not take final exams at the same time) following the Final Exam Policy (click here) developed for spring and summer 2020. This applies to all programs. Faculty can use any time during final exam week as the deadline for materials due that week. The latest deadline an instructor may use for all coursework is midnight PST on the last day of final exams. Faculty are required to have one course-related activity take place during final exam week. This might be an assignment, an exam, a blog post, a project or other assessment.
  Points of clarification:
• There is not a Fall final exam “schedule,” as exams will be asynchronous. Due to time differences, distractions in the home, etc., faculty should give students a window of time to complete the final.
• If you are giving an asynchronous final exam, you do NOT need to meet as a class during finals week.
• If the final exam is a presentation, it should be asynchronous (recorded).
• If you plan to hold a synchronous class session during finals week (instead of a final exam), you only have to meet once, during your regularly scheduled class time. If this is your preference, let your students know early, as they are expecting classes to be asynchronous and virtual this week.
   
• Pearson Library contact-free pickup of resources. Pearson Library's print books and DVDs are available to the Cal Lutheran community through the Contact-Free Hold Pickup service. Please place a hold on the item you want in the library’s catalog, and an email will be sent to you to schedule your pickup time. All other services, such as Librarian Assistance and Course Reserves, are available virtually. Please check the Library Alerts & Resources Guide for the most up-to-date information.